Lindblad Introduces Wine-Themed Sailings on the Columbia & Snake Rivers
by Dori Saltzman /Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic is introducing a new series of wine-themed sailings to the Columbia and Snake Rivers in partnership with Food & Wine magazine.
The eight-day sailings, which will be aboard both National Geographic Sea Bird and National Geographic Sea Lion, will give guests the chance to dive deep into the region’s rich wine history and harvests.
“The bountiful diversity in the Columbia and Snake Rivers region is every chef’s dream” said Ana Esteves, vice president of hotel operations at Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic. “With the opportunity to source fresh ingredients directly from farmers along the way, this new itinerary perfectly captures the best culinary delicacies of the region.”
When they’re not exploring the region by foot or Zodiac, guests can enjoy regionally-inspired menus designed around the ingredients and wines that have all been sourced from within 250 miles of the destination. The extensive wine list onboard these sailings will feature more than 40 regional varietals curated by Esteves in collaboration with Food & Wine executive wine editor Ray Isle (who will join the inaugural voyage on March 31, 2024).
“The expedition follows the Columbia River through some of the Pacific Northwest’s most beautiful wine country – Oregon and Washington regions like the Columbia Gorge, Walla Walla, and others,” said Isle. “It’s been an adventure in itself choosing the wines for this series of exclusive expeditions and being able to taste them while in the heart of the landscape they come from should be an extraordinary experience for anyone on the trip.”